Variable-speed-transmitting mechanism.



PTBNTED MAR. 24, 1908.

A. J. MEYER. VAEIEEEE SPEED TRANSMEM-NE MEGEANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, 1907.

2 SHEETS-salam 2.

t lmarini3. sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST Jp. MEYEncF cLnvELANn-.oriio VARIABLnsPEED-TBANSMITTING MECHANISM.

. Naesaesz..

Specification'of Letters Patent.

'Patented March ai.,4 190s.

.e\.p1;lication4 led January 26, 1907. Serial No.-354,169.

To all whom it may concern:-

it known Vthat I, AUGUST J. MEYER., a' citizen of the' United States of America, and

' `a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented. certain new and useful Improvement-sin Variable Speed Transmitting Mech anisni, of which the following is a specification.

, My invention relates to improvements inv variable-speed transmitting-mechanism, and

` has for its object' theiprcvision of apparatus of this character, which shall be simple, e ffective and shallt be readily operated. at

, widely varying ranges of speed, and in either' direction..l The most urgent demand for aparatus of this type, at thepresent time, is `or a structure which shall best lend itself to the transmission lof power upon motor vehiproblem, although it will be a cles, and my improvements have been dil rected particularly toward the solving of this preciatedthat my invention' is in no Wise imited toV any' specific application of thestructure herein set forth.'4

Transmitting-mechanism, dependent upon gearing'and the like for the purpose of varying speed, is restricted to relatively few ratios of speedtransmission, while presenting dif- 'ficulties'in starting or changing the speed .and driven members of the mechanism` during the actuation thereof." l My invention proceeds'upon the linesof a suitable fluid-actuated mechanism, which 'serves to overcome these Aundesirable features, and resents advantages which will be better' un( erstoood after' my improvements have been set forth. t

l. may briefly and. generally describe the embodiment of my invention in a preliminary way b stating that the driving member preferab y is equippedI with a plurality of vanes -or blades rotating within a fluidchamber, wherein is disposed'adeflector acti 2#2,' Fig. i.

' the medium of the deilector `are. centrally cut` awa-y at h to receive the the preferred typevof co-acting blades or vanes employed inamy improved structure. Fig. 4 vis a similar view showing the same mounted in the cylindrical core and associated with one of the conical heads. a similar View of the deflector removed from the casing. Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating the controlling lever' and releasing mechanism adapted for association lwith my transmitting appliance wlien'employed'on automo biles-and the like, and Fig. -7 is a sectional view on line 7--7',' Fig. 2, artially broken away at one end, whichl wel illustrates the relationof the several operative arts. p

Through each of the several gures of the drawing, I have "employed thesame charac# ter of reference to indicate similar parts.

VReferring first to Fig.4 1,' itis seen that all of the operative mechanism is contained Fig. 5 is Fig. 3 is an isometric view of y withinthe sealed-casing a, which is general'tly of cylindrical form, and. isv provided Wi circumferential heat radiating {lances-a. It will be assumed that power'isap lied by any suitable motor device to the sha tbupon the left, and is to beimparted to mechanism Keyed upon shaft l), is a conical head or isk d closely 'fitting Vco-acting surfacesformed interiorly of the fluid chamberf V Valves control openings connecting interiorly with the central portion of said chamber and ,inn sure `the maximum working pressure rear` wardly of the-disk d; A smaller conical head e is adapted to fit co-actinv surfaces at the connected with '-shaft.` c` upon. the ri ht."

opposite Vend of said chamber, and ispro` A `vided V with an inwardly `opening valve e. Between these parts is secured the quartered vcore-member g, whichhmounts the double blades 'ti,.(separately shownin Fig. 3) in position to act upon the fluid within .chamf ierf, as the saline shall be governed through The blades h connectinCr web i/jof the Vco-actin blades 'i n g y 'and when these parts are mounted at right angles within the quartered core, they are adapted freely to move diainetric-ally with respect to each other and the core, and in the4 corresponding slots provided in the-conical heads or disks d e, in order that the detlector 'j may lcause the blades or vanes to assume retracted, orextended positions with respect 'to the quartered core, whereby their action upon the iluid withinthe chamber f is regu-V .materially to equalize the` pressure rear-l wardly of disk d immediately the upper orv lated. The dellector is provided with 'an upwardly-extending proiection or projections j mteriorly fitting within the auxiliary chambery, and is provided with an inclined cutting-edges j of the openings j are raised above the interior` edges af* of the slots a.` Openings i5 afford free passage for the luidmedium exteriorlyand interiorly of the deflector, and the double valvey j likewise affords freev passage for saidi'luid-medium from' the auxiliary chamber, f; all these -understood is securely keyed to casing c, is lprovided'a'longitudinally movable collar 7c parts'insuring Vthe immediate actuation' of the deilector, shall presently be described Splined upon ,the shaft c,'which it will be acted upon by .controlling levery Z. Said collar has an upwardly extending -arm connected with the actuating wedge m by meansv of the rod mf extending through gland m,

said wedge acting upon the correspondingly v inclined face 17; Thus by moving l the wedge to the right,- 'it is seen that the deflector will be caused to rise through the action ofthe s ring ja, .and any working pressure within ft epchamber The positionof the deflector, accordingly, is placed entirelyfy'mder the control of lever Z, and consequently the ratio of speed -transmission may be. accurately governed thereby.

Referf' to Fig. 2, and understanding that the- :chamberf is filled with any suitable fluid, such as glycerin, oil or the like, it will be seen thatl inasmuch as said'fluid is conf lined between the extended portions of blades h` and-'11', and by the dellector, the shaftsl) c must rotate at a commonl speed, by reason of their connection through the practically non-compressible fluid-medium," The tendency, of course/.would be for the core and the blades toI rotate within .the fluid chamber, but saidblades are restricted'in their action by the deflecton and cause a relatively high working pressure upon the fluid, which re-acts both to cramp the conical heads within their co-acting seats in the iiuid chamber, and cause the casing and shaft'c,y keyed thereto, to rotate with shaft b and its "connected-parta. The 'valves'..d opening outwardly, irtwill be'understood, permit the maximum working pressure to act rrearwardlyof disk,d, whilethe valve e permits the escape of any fluid imprisoned forwardly of disk e, thus enabling thesev parts to bel forced l.home to their seats. Assuming now that itis` desired-to reduce the speed, the lever l will be moved, actuating through the slip ring 7c', collar )tand rod m', said wedge m to move toward the right and permit the Ie-' Hector to be lifted in a correspondingv degree.

This will afforda more or less lconstrictedi vThis effect will be increased upon the further withdrawal of the wedge part m until the blades revolve without effect, centrally of the fluid chamber; being retracted as far as possible within the quartered core, and thereby operatively disconnecting shafts b and c. Immediately the openings j are raised above the receiving slots a,- the working pressure will be freely'transmitted rearwardly-of the disk d, inasmuch as said slots connect withv ical disk or head d. During the operation, of Y'course, it will be apparent that considerable heat is developed in the fluid thus placed 'under pressure, but the same will'nd'ample radiation. through radiating flanges a/ It should be observed that in'my im-4 proved mechanism, the deflector is positioned within the fluid chamber to govern the action of; .the fluid-medium upon the blades ,.orvaries, thereby dispensing with every form of valve for such purpose. Moreover, with the hereindescribed construction,

' i wherein the blades'are permitted to revolve in -a relatively large {luid-chamber, and restricte'd only to the extent required by the del'ectorLpart, lthere is decreased wear, and

less loss of power than in a construction wherein merely the eccentricity of the enscribed rin the patent to Duncan, No. 466,660,

January 5th, 18.92;

, As applied particularly to motor vehicles, it will bev seen that marked advantage results if the speed-transmitting-mechanism can be' instantly thrown out of action'at a moments notice, and accordingly, in Fig. 6, l have shown means. whereby the lever l is thus, `placed under 'control of the motorist without removing his handsfrom the steeringA wheel. In this case said lever is connected by means of the rod` n with a handlever o acting upon the quadrant. or rack vo This rack 1s normally maintained in engagement with the detent o through the action of the spring o3.

The eccenpI-jcfpart pis connected withthe' so foot lever g by means of link an and it-will be' appreciated, that the quadrant or rack may! lat once be disengaged from the detent o by `actuating the quadrant downwardly againstthe tension of its spring, whereupon the vNl mechanism, that the s-amemay be employed 4 vthe motor or associated mechanism. The

bodying my fort'ransmitting motion at varying speeds in either 'direction .of rotationfwhichis an advantage .of marked importance .in this' class of. apparatus Moreover, the' adjustment vof its speed-transmission is gradual and easy, thereby throwing noundue strain upon range of speed too,l is embraced within wide limits, since the position of the dellector controls the same,l and this may* be very closely regulated.

"Having now described afmechanism em'- invention, l claim as new', to-

gether with 'such modifications as may be made by those merelyskilled in the art, the

following zl. In apparatus of the class described., the

combination with driven and driving members, of an associated fluid-chamber and contained fluid-medium, diametricallv movable movably positioned within the chamber and 'anesrorybladea an arching ,deflector-part partiallyfsuri'ounding said vanes, whereby Vthe action` of 'the `fluid-medium on the Vblades is controlled, and means for governing the position of 'said deilector-part, substantially `as set forth.y f

' associated operatively connected ,Y

y 2-. In. a variable-speed transmitting-appli` ance, the combination with a fluid-chamber with one of the members to' be of a yplurality of roe tatable blades or vanes disposed within s'aid fluid chamber, Aand attached to the other member to be operatively connected, and a restricting controller-part inov ably posh tioned Within said chamber, partially inclosing and adaptedto govern the action of the lblades With vrespect to the fluid contained within said chamber,- substantially as set forth. j, 3.. ln'a variable-speed transmitting-appli- ,ance,the combination with a fluid-chainber one of the members tobe.

associated with operatively connected, of a plurality-of rotatable blades or vanes disposed withinsaid fluid-chamber, and lattached to the other member to be oeratively connected, and a deflector mova ly mounted within" said chamber in position partially. to in close the `flector and rotatable blades, l l variation ofspeed is obtained, substantially the chamber may. be placed under different Working' pressures anfdithe..trans`miage`d l speed of the inotor altered7 Subsflntiuy as, -1set forth. i

anisin, the combination witha casingform ing a fluid-chamber, and secured to one of l the ,parts tobe operatively connected, of a movable deflector within said chamber, and means for governing its position therein, and a plurality of bladesor vanes rotatably positioned beneath 4the deflectorand connected with the opposing part to be operatively connected; said blades or vanesbeing relatively movable. under the control ofthe deitlector, whereby the "contained fluid inaybe placed under varying working pressures, and the transmitted speed. may be altered as required, substa'ntially as set forth.

' 5. Ina variablespeed transmitting-mechanism, the combination with a casing forniing a .fluid-chainber, and secured to one of the parts tol be operatively connected, of a movable deflector within saidrchaniber, and.

means for governing its position ltherein, conical heads or disks positioned to engage co-acting seats'within the fluid chamber, and a plurality of blades or vanes rotatably positioned vbeneath 'the' deflector and connected with the opposing part to be operatively connected; said blades or vanes being relatively movable under the control of the deflector, whereby the "contained fluid may be placed under vvarying working pressures', and the transmitted 'speed may be altered as reL quired, substantially as set forth.

, 6. In a variable-speed transmitting-mechanism, the combination with a shaft to which power is applied, oi' a transmitting-member, comprising a core anda plurality of' blades diametrically movable therein, an arching movable deflector partially surrounding the blades, a sealed casing fbrminga fluid-cham bei', wherein said parts are disposed and connected with the driven mechanism, a fluidniediumviithin said chamber, andexternal means for governing the position of the dewhereby the as set forth.

7. ln a variable-speed releasing-mechan*4 ism, the combination with an operating lever for apparatus of the cla'ss described, of a rack, a detent upon said lever for engaging the rack, an eccentric part normally permitting such engagement, and a releasing member associated with the eccentric for.` disengaging therack trom the detent', and thereby releasing the lever, ysubstamzially as set forthl 8. In a variable-speed transmitting-mechanism, thecombination with a shaft` to which roo power is applied, of a transmitting n'ienibei',

comprising a core 'mounting a plurality of rotatablev blades, whereby the fluid within blades diametricallv movable with respect.

thereto, vconical yheads disposed at either eno of said core,- valves positioned thereine, de.

lleetor sl'lrrounding the blades, a sealed oasing forming` afluid-chamber, wherein said parts are disposed and conneotedwith the Adriven mechanism, and s fluid.-1nediu1n er, valves positioned' within said heads, a'

deflector surroundin the rotatable blades and external means or controlling the posi'- ltion of said delleetor, substantially as set forth.

10. In a variable-speed translmitting-meohanism, the combination with afsesled fluidchamber of an entering shaft; the saiclparts being resipectivehT connected with the driv ing and L riven members, rotatable blades or venes secured to the shaft, a deflector Within' the chamber partially surrounding the rotatable blades, and external means for controlnn theposition ofsaid defl'eotor, suhstew 1 1. In apparatus of the-class describen, two angulnrly positioned blad es or venes i the former being centrally out swag," to 9e mit the insertion. of the latter; in blades i, being ool'inected by e central l 'A ysubstsntiatlly as set forth. i

l2. In apparatus of the Glass d esorlb'd, the combination with n luid-hnmber'n f contained fluid-medium, e. plurality of nio able venes or blades therein, a, movnlfle de lector-part within the chamber 'partie surrounding said venes or blades, adapted i govern their iosition vand resulting not upon thelui .-mediuin, an auxiliary chan ber above the delleetor, a valve eontn the same, and means for effecting the adji ment of the delleetor-pnrt, substantially set forth.

. Signed `at vClevelsnd, this 19th day J anuary, 1907, in the presence of two rliu'fg1 :3.3;

seribing` witnesses.

' AUGUST J. MYER.

Witnesses: Y. G. AnMs'rnoNG, v ALBERT LYNN .l'mvnnvgn- 

